Business Development Executive

About the role:

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Clients and Markets team in Birmingham as a Business Development (BD) Executive on a 15-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave.

In this role, you'll provide direct support to several Senior Business Development Managers, contributing to business development initiatives across a variety of sectors including Tech, Automotive, Life Sciences, Health & Care, and Financial Institutions & Services. You'll also collaborate across a range of practice areas such as Corporate, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Commercial.

While the position is based in Birmingham, occasional travel to London will be required.

About you:

We're looking for a proactive and motivated individual with proven experience in business development. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who brings initiative, a positive attitude, and a can-do approach to their work. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, with the ability to build rapport across all levels of the organisation.

You'll need excellent organisational and project management capabilities, meticulous attention to detail, and outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including a high level of grammatical proficiency

As a BD Executive, you'll support the Senior BD Manager by analysing financial data, identifying trends, and highlighting key insights. Strong numeracy and analytical skills are essential.

Proficiency in IT is also key—particularly in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Your previous experience should demonstrate your ability to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and adapt flexibly to deliver high-quality outputs.

If you're someone who thrives on curiosity and is eager to learn and grow, this role offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills and advance your career in business development.

Advantageous skills/experience:

• Previous experience in law or the professional services sector is desirable
• An interest and awareness in the tech sector is also advantageous
• Experience or qualification in marketing or equivalent would be advantageous but not essential

What We Can Offer You:

The opportunity to work within a strong and supportive BD function and with dynamic partners and lawyers in high profile areas of the firm. Gowling WLG has been recognised as one of best places to work in the UK and has been ranked by Great Place to Work for 25 consecutive years.

Excellent benefits, including:

• A hybrid approach to office and remote working.
• 25 days annual leave, with the option to buy up to a week's extra annual leave.
• Free private medical insurance, and the option to add family members.
• A generous pension allowance.
• Life assurance covering four times your annual salary.
• The chance of a three-month sabbatical every five years.
• Maternity, paternity and adoption leave schemes.
• A range of health and wellbeing programmes.
• Offices in Birmingham city centre or in London overlooking Tower Bridge, both with onsite restaurants.
• Opportunities to flourish in your role through training and personal development.

Equal Opportunities:

Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment. The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.

At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our aim is to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.

If you have any queries in relation to this position or would like to see a full job description please contact Meg Astley at